Going Live: SXSW 2014 (Wednesday)

Now more than ever, South By Southwest is transforming Austin, Texas, into a top-tier Spring Break destination. It’s always been a winter getaway for the musically inclined but this year, the low-key city felt packed to the brim on opening day + night thanks to swarms of crowds that needed to get their fill of St. Vincent, Earl Sweatshirt, Kurt Vile, G.O.O.D. Music, and Jay Z & Kanye West. Wednesday (March 12th) did fall victim to a terrible tragedy and while it also left a black cloud over the festival for the rest of the week, it encouraged everyone to hold friends and family closer to their heart. Following a 5 a.m. flight out of Toronto (** Drake shrug **), we made the most out of the first day of SXSW – kicking it at Pitchfork’s Day Party, rockin’ with some of the best at FADER Fort, and watching BrooklynVegan and Run For Cover Records add chapters to punk’s legacy (with a Shiner Bock in hand, of course).